20 Aptavani-2
different religion came to him. But people have created so many factions within the very religion of Lord Mahavir.
Today, the ascetics and sages too have become partial. What is the difference between the sages of religious sect and the sages of the vitarag Lords? The sages of religious sect are partial; they even fight amongst themselves. Just as two brothers fight with each other. The sages of the vitarag Lord are impartial and never interfere in anything. We pay obeisance to the sages of the vitarag Lords who never take any sides, regardless of whether they are a Digambari(‘ sky-clad’ or‘ naked’ the sect of Jains who believe nothing besides the atma merits owning and hence they do not believe in rituals or idols) or a Swetambar( the Jain sect that believes in idol worship and rituals and visit derasars). But here the maharaj of one religious sect will not go to listen to another religious sect. Can they attain liberation if they are caught up in taking sides? If it is the truth, then it must be accepted even if it comes from anybody’ s home. But where does truth exist today?
Sages of certain religious sects have quarreled over whether they should clothe the idol of the Lord or to leave it naked. What was the reason behind leaving the Lord’ s idol naked? Adorning an idol is an undeveloped ritual, but it attracts people to come and do the Lord’ s darshan, does it not? Whereas the previous concept is for those who want knowledge, but nowadays everything is completely turned around. A sage from one religious sect came to me and told me,“ Surely liberation will come only to us, will it not?”‘ We’ asked him,“ Why do you say that?” and he replied,“ Why? Did God not say,“ Nagga ae mokha magga”?( Only the one who sheds his‘ clothes’ will attain liberation)?”‘ We’ told him,“ Yes, you are right, the Lord did say,“ Nagga ae mokha magga”, but you have misunderstood this statement. The Lord said to de-clothe( unveil) the Self, not the body!”
All this is nothing but misunderstanding. The soul has three